Symptoms

Typically, lung cancer does not have symptoms in its earliest stages — when it’s most treatable. But as the cancer grows, symptoms may become more noticeable.

Common symptoms include:

A cough that gets worse or does not go away

Trouble breathing, such as shortness of breath

Constant chest pain

Coughing up blood

A hoarse voice

Frequent lung infections, such as pneumonia

Constantly feeling exhausted

Unexplained weight loss

Most often, other health issues cause these symptoms, not cancer. However, people who experience these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Screening with low-dose CT scans can help find lung cancers early, leading to a higher cure rate. Diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage, before the cancer has spread, increases a patient’s chance of successful treatment and survival.